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Maple Butter Nut Granola

Reprinted from Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair (Sasquatch Books, 2008)

Use granola as a topping on hot cereal, fresh fruit, or yogurt.  Homemade granola makes a quick snack for children on the move.

3 ½ cups rolled oats
½ cup sesame seeds
½ cup sunflower seeds
½ cup pumpkin seeds
½ cup almonds, chopped
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup melted butter
½ cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon nut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, seeds, almonds, cinnamon and salt; mix well.  In small pan melt butter, add syrup and nut butter and stir to blend.  Remove from heat and add extracts. Slowly pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients, using a spatula to fold and evenly coat the dry mixture with the wet.  Spread on cookie sheet or in a shallow pan and bake.  Turn granola every 15 or 20 minutes so that it toasts evenly.  Bake until granola is dry and golden (45 - 60 minutes).  Store in an airtight jar.

Preparation time: 70 minutes
Makes 8 cups

19 Comments:

Wendy Wallace
This looks so good. I wondered how long it lasts in an airtight jar? Does it need refrigerating?
January 1, 2009, 9:35 am

Cynthia Lair
Hi Wendy, This does not need to be refrigerated, just kept in a sealed jar. It can last for a month or more but will begin to lose a little flavor after two weeks. Happy hippie food!
January 1, 2009, 10:30 am

Kate Snodgrass
Okay, I'm hooked. You guys are HILARIOUS. I'm going to Amazon immediately, too. I have to find out. xxx Kate
January 2, 2009, 7:20 am

Sue Petersen
Hi Cynthia! Love your whole food cooking. Can you tell me...What was that extra ingredient you added ? Sue
January 6, 2009, 9:35 am

Susan MacPherson
I have made this recipe 5 times now and it disappears so fast. It is a great blend of flavors and so easy. You won't go back to stale, storebought granola after eating this!
January 10, 2009, 12:03 am

Kay Stacer
Hi Cynthia! I was wondering if you had a recipe for granola Bars you could share. We love the granola, but would like it for snacks in a bar form. Thanks!
March 10, 2009, 12:47 pm

Cynthia Lair
Sue - the extra ingredient was cardamom. Kay - I have a bar recipe in my book Feeding the Young Athlete. If you take the granola recipe above, divide it in half, add 1/4- 1/3 cup flour to the dry mixture - you can press (press hard to really make it compact)it into a pan and bake it to make a crust or a bar. The flour makes it stick together.
March 10, 2009, 2:35 pm

Tami Kays
I agree with everyone--this is so incredibly good. I just wanted to post another comment so that everyone consider giving it a try and to reiterate just how good it is! I hope there is no problem with eating too much of it? It is so good on yogurt and as a cereal. I am excited to make it as a bar...
April 15, 2009, 6:10 pm

Tessa Francis
Hi Cynthia - I am about to make my first foray into this world of hippie food (next stop: sun tea...) and am wondering at what stage I should add dried fruit (e.g. raisins, cranberries, etc.) to this granola. Before or after baking? Thanks!
June 15, 2009, 9:02 am

Cynthia Lair
Go Tessa! Next sauerkraut (yes). Add dried fruit AFTER baking. Let me know how it turns out. I'm addicted. Get nervous when the jar's low. Gotta have it...
June 15, 2009, 10:41 pm

Tessa Francis
Wow, Cynthia, you didn't warn me that my house would smell this good! That butter-syrup-nutbutter-extract likker barely made it onto the oats instead of directly into my mouth. YUM!
June 17, 2009, 10:35 pm

Valerie Loucks
I just made homemade granola yesterday...we couldn't stop just eating it right out of the pan! AND the house smelled fabulous! I can't wait to have some for breakfast today. Thanks!!
June 19, 2009, 4:55 am

Tammy Gifford
Would this work with a sugar free syrup? My husband is a diabetic. Thanks
September 5, 2009, 4:32 pm

Cynthia Lair
Tammy, I have never used sugar-free syrup in this recipe so I can't suggest the substitution confidently. What's is the syrup made out of?
September 6, 2009, 9:32 am

Helen
One son loves it and we both eat it plain or with non-fat plain yogurt. Had a picky eater visiting today, he ate it for snack and he asked for some to take home. Yes! My other son thinks it needs to be in clusters. Would adding the flour make it clustery? Assume I can use any type of flour? Thanks!
September 17, 2009, 8:03 pm

Cynthia Lair
Hi Helen, Adding ¼-1/3 cup flour would make the granola cluster.
September 18, 2009, 8:46 am

Rebekah Kelly
Sitting at the computer enjoying a bowl of cereal. Maple Butter Nut Granola! YUM! I had no idea that the consistency and flavor would be so, well so addictive! YUM! YUM! YUM! Kids love it. Husband loves it. GREAT HIT! We love you Cynthia - for making our kitchen a happy place!
November 24, 2009, 3:13 am

Meg
Do you have any suggestions for other seeds or nuts to add? I am allergic to everything Pumpkin. Thank you!
February 5, 2010, 11:11 am

Cynthia Lair
Meg, Try more of the other nuts or substitute cashews, sesame seeds, walnuts or pecans for the pumpkin seeds. Whatever you like that you can tolerate will work.
February 5, 2010, 1:25 pm

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